The benefit of Rogers' counsel and connections come at a time when Johnson Publishing, the world's largest African-American owned and operated publishing company, has battled against steep advertising declines -- like much of print media.

Wendy Parks, a spokeswoman for the publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines, told The Root that Rogers would "assist with corporate strategy."

The Root reports:

Rogers was still likely to receive a warm reception from her hometown crowd in Chicago, where she has long reigned as a socialite, fundraiser, and corporate power broker.